Directing notice, merely from a wish
To impart a joy, imperfect while unshared.
That rapturous moment never shall I forget
When these particular interests were effaced
From every mind! — Already had the sun,
Sinking with less than ordinary state,
Attained his Western bound; but rays of light
Now suddenly diverging from the orb
Retired behind the mountain-tops or veiled
By the dense air- shot upwards to the crown

Of the blue firmament, aloft, and wide;
And multitudes of little floating clouds,

Through their ethereal texture pierced,— ere we, Who saw, of change were conscious, had be

come

Vivid as fire; clouds separately poised, -
Innumerable multitude of forms

Scattered through half the circle of the sky;
And giving back, and shedding each on each,
With prodigal communion, the bright hues
Which from the unapparent fount of glory
They had imbibed, and ceased not to receive.
That which the heavens displayed, the liquid deep
Repeated; but with unity sublime!

While from the grassy mountain's open side We gazed, in silence hushed, with eyes intent On the refulgent spectacle, diffused

Through earth, sky, water, and all visible space, The Priest in holy transport thus exclaimed:

"Eternal Spirit! universal God!

Power inaccessible to human thought,

Save by degrees and steps which thou hast deigned To furnish; for this effluence of thyself,

To the infirmity of mortal sense

Vouchsafed,

this local, transitory type

Of thy paternal splendors, and the pomp

Of those who fill thy courts in highest heaven, The radiant Cherubim, accept the thanks Which we, thy humble Creatures, here convened, Presume to offer; we, who- from the breast

Of the frail earth, permitted to behold
The faint reflections only of thy face-
Are yet exalted, and in soul adore!
Such as they are who in thy presence stand
Unsullied, incorruptible, and drink
Imperishable majesty streamed forth

From thy empyreal throne, the elect of earth
Shall be, divested at the appointed hour
Of all dishonor, cleansed from mortal stain.

- Accomplish, then, their number; and conclude Time's weary course! Or if, by thy decree, The consummation that will come by stealth Be yet far distant, let thy Word prevail, Oh! let thy Word prevail, to take away The sting of human nature. Spread the law, As it is written in thy holy book, Throughout all lands: let every nation hear The high behest, and every heart obey; Both for the love of purity, and hope

Which it affords, to such as do thy will
And persevere in good, that they shall rise,
To have a nearer view of thee, in heaven.

Father of good! this prayer in bounty grant,
In mercy grant it, to thy wretched sons.
Then, nor till then, shall persecution cease,
And cruel wars expire. The way is marked,
The guide appointed, and the ransom paid.
Alas! the nations who of yore received

These tidings, and in Christian temples meet
The sacred truth to acknowledge, linger still;
Preferring bonds and darkness to a state
Of holy freedom, by redeeming love
Proffered to all, while yet on earth detained.

"So fare the many; and the thoughtful few, Who in the anguish of their souls bewail This dire perverseness, cannot choose but ask, Shall it endure? Shall enmity and strife, Falsehood and guile, be left to sow their seed; And the kind never perish? Is the hope Fallacious, or shall righteousness obtain A peaceable dominion, wide as earth,

And ne'er to fail? Shall that blest day arrive When they, whose choice or lot it is to dwell In crowded cities, without fear shall live Studious of mutual benefit; and he,

Whom Morn awakens, among dews and flowers Of every clime, to till the lonely field,

Be happy in himself? The law of faith

Working through love, such conquest shall it gain,
Such triumph over sin and guilt achieve?
Almighty Lord, thy further grace impart!
And with that help the wonder shall be seen
Fulfilled, the hope accomplished; and thy praise
Be sung with transport and unceasing joy.

"Once," and with wild demeanor, as he spake, On us the venerable Pastor turned

His beaming eye that had been raised to Heaven, "Once, while the Name Jehovah was a sound Within the circuit of this sea-girt Isle

Unheard, the savage nations bowed the head
To Gods delighting in remorseless deeds;
Gods which themselves had fashioned, to promote
Ill purposes, and flatter foul desires.

Then, in the bosom of you mountain-cove,
To those inventions of corrupted man
Mysterious rites were solemnized; and there.
Amid impending rocks and gloomy woods
Of those terrific Idols some received
Such dismal service, that the loudest voice
Of the swoln cataracts (which now are heard
Soft murmuring) was too weak to overcome,
Though aided by wild winds, the groans and shrieks
Of human victims, offered up to appease

Or to propitiate. And, if living eyes

Had visionary faculties to see

The thing that hath been as the thing that is,
Aghast we might behold this crystal Mere

Bedimmed with smoke, in wreaths voluminous
Flung from the body of devouring fires,
To Taranis erected on the heights
By priestly hands, for sacrifice performed
Exultingly, in view of open day

And full assemblage of a barbarous host;
Or to Andates, female Power! who gave
(For so they fancied) glorious victory.

A few rude monuments of mountain-stone Survive; all else is swept away. How bright The appearances of things! From such, how

changed

The existing worship; and with those compared,
The worshippers how innocent and blest!
So wide the difference, a willing mind
Might almost think, at this affecting hour,
That paradise, the lost abode of man,
Was raised again: and to a happy few,
In its original beauty, here restored.

"Whence but from thee, the true and only God, And from the faith derived through Him who bled Upon the cross, this marvellous advance

Of good from evil; as if one extreme
Were left, the other gained.—O ye, who come
To kneel devoutly in yon reverend Pile,
Called to such office by the peaceful sound
Of Sabbath bells; and ye, who sleep in earth,
All cares forgotten, round its hallowed walls!
For you, in presence of this little band